Fire destroys Farmington home just days before Christmas: Pets killed in blaze

By Samantha Allen

sallen@fosters.com

Thursday, December 20, 2012

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John Huff/Staff photographer
Firefighters work to put out hot spots in the walls of a mobile home on 43 Hancock St. in Farmington that caught fire Wednesday, destroying the home and contents and killing pets inside.

FARMINGTON — Less than a week before Christmas a one-alarm fire at 43 Hancock St. Wednesday morning destroyed a mobile home. While the homeowners were not home at the time, all household pets inside the structure died in the blaze.

Farmington Fire Chief Rich Fowler said the call initially came in at 10:54 a.m. It was reported as a working fire which was then elevated to a first alarm, with additional departments called in for back up. Fowler noted initial responders were delayed when entering the structure as a large burst of flames forced them back.

The home was located at the end Hancock Street, a dead-end street, near the downtown center.

Another fire emergency call came in shortly after on Spring Street for reports of smoke, but officials determined the smoke was coming from the Hancock Street scene, still smoking just before noon.

Dozens of firefighters from the area, including Rochester, Milton, Alton and New Durham, worked to fully extinguish the blaze. Tappan Street was closed for a short period of time and Hancock remained closed for several hours while firefighters worked into the afternoon.

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John Huff/Staff photographer
A firefighter puts out fire in the ceiling of a mobile home on 43 Hancock St. in Farmington Wednesday which destroyed the home and contents and killed pets in the building.

Fowler called the damage to the mobile home “a total loss,” and noted at this time, there is no determined cause of the fire. The incident remains under investigation, with officials noting local police as well as the state Fire Marshal’s Office are assisting with the evaluation.

Neighbors were seen at the end of the street consoling the distraught homeowners. Fowler said an undetermined number of cats and dogs died in the fire, and Farmington Police Animal Control Officer Kate Koval was seen entering the structure to assist with the removal of the animals as firefighters stripped siding from the structure.

Fowler noted relief workers were called in to assist the homeowners earlier that day, from American Red Cross and Victims, Inc.

He urged the community to be safe this holiday season, as fire trucks arrived to the Hancock scene with Christmas decorations strapped to the fronts of their trucks. He said he has not ruled out any heat sources at this time that may have sparked the blaze, including seasonal decorations such as candles and Christmas trees.

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John Huff/Staff photographer
Firefighters fight a fire in a mobile home on 43 Hancock St. in Farmington Wednesday. The home was destroyed.

The Wakefield Fire Department covered for Farmington during the incident and Farmington police responded as well.

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John Huff/Staff photographer
Firefighters work to put out hot spots in the walls of a mobile home on 43 Hancock St. in Farmington.

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John Huff/Staff photographer
Firefighters tear out burned walls of a mobile home on 43 Hancock St. in Farmington looking for hot spots Wednesday.